Follows gay marriage support controversy

Pat Brady, the chairman of the Illinois GOP announced his resignation amid controversy over his support for gay marriage legislation. (WGN-TV)

Pat Brady, the chairman of the Illinois GOP announced his resignation amid controversy over his support for gay marriage legislation. (WGN-TV)

Rick PearsonClout Street

Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady is telling people tonight that he plans to resign Tuesday, sources familiar with his decision say.

The resignation comes after Brady survived an attempt last month to oust him as GOP chairman over his support for gay marriage.

Even then, however, top state GOP leaders approved a succession strategy many believed could lead to him being replaced by the end of May.

The plan for a succession committee was approved last month by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. The move appeared to provide Brady with an exit strategy to leave the post he has held since August 2009.

Brady created a controversy within the state GOP in January when he endorsed pending legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. The measure passed the Illinois Senate in February with the support of one Republican.

Supporters of the bill say they are closing in on the 60 needed for House approval. Two GOP members, Reps. Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein and Ron Sandack of Downers Grove, have said they will vote for it and expect other Republicans to join them.

In March, Brady survived an attempt to replace him that was engineered by state Sen. Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove and Jerry Clarke of Urbana, two members of the State Central Committee. An emergency meeting to force Brady out was canceled because of a lack of votes and lobbying by U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk's aides in support of the GOP chairman.

The same-sex marriage issue has highlighted the long-standing tensions within the state Republican Party between social moderates and conservatives. But the timing of the controversy comes as GOP leaders at the state and national level have been looking for outreach initiatives after Republican losses for the White House and in Illinois at the congressional level.

Though Brady has said his endorsement of same-sex marriage was given personally and not as party chairman, Oberweis and others took issue. They complained that Brady should not be countermanding a plank in the state Republican platform that specifies that marriage can only take place between a man and a woman.